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Service of Electronically Filed Documents

By participating in the Electronic Case Filing System, attorney e-filers consent to the electronic service of documents and agree to make e-mail addresses available for service.  Upon the filing of a document, an e-mail message will be automatically generated by the Electronic Case Filing System and sent via electronic mail to the e-mail addresses of all attorneys who have appeared in the case.  The Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) will contain a document hyperlink which will provide recipients with one “free look” at the electronically filed document.  Recipients are encouraged to print a

Docket

Upon the electronic filing of a document, a docket entry will be automatically created by the CM/ECF System using the information provided by the e-filer.  The Clerk of Court, where necessary and appropriate, will modify the docket entry description to comply with quality control standards.

Retention of Documents with Original Signatures

Documents with original signatures of persons other than the e-filer must be retained by the e-filer for a period of two years after the closing of the case by the Clerk unless the Court orders a different period.  This retention period does not affect or replace any other retention periods required by other applicable laws or rules.  Upon request by the Court, the United States Trustee, or the case trustee, the e-filer must provide documents with original signatures of persons other than the e-filer for review or proof of consent as to joint or agreed pleadings with

Problems with E-Filing

E-filers are encouraged to file documents electronically during normal business hours so that assistance can be obtained if a problem is encountered.  Generally, if a technical failure occurs (that is not a system outage affecting all e-filers but affects only the individual e-filer) and a document cannot be filed electronically in a case despite the best efforts of the filing party, the e-filer should print (if possible) a copy of the error message received, if any.  If no error message is received, the e-filer should indicate so in the “Declaration that Party Was Unable to File in a Timel

Non-Electronic Filings

Refer to Problems with E-Filing for guidance on how to proceed if the filer is unable to file electronically.  If that section does not apply, an attorney seeking to file a case non-electronically should contact and receive permission from the Clerk.  An attorney seeking to file a document in a case non-electronically should file a Motion for Authority and receive permission from the Judge before doing so.  This situation may arise as to documents that cannot be reduced to an electronic format.  Documents not filed electronically must contain wet signatures.

Filing a Miscellaneous Case

Currently, the opening document in all miscellaneous cases must be filed in paper and cannot be filed electronically. Document must contain wet signatures. The Clerk's Office should be contacted for further instructions prior to filing a miscellaneous case.

Once the case has been opened and given a case number, all documents thereafter must be filed electronically with an electronic signature.  If a miscellaneous case is to be sealed, refer to Sealed Cases and Documents.

Ex Parte Documents

All ex parte filings must be submitted using an appropriate ex parte filing event.  Docket text and PDF documents associated with an electronic filing created using an ex parte filing event are not posted on the Court’s public docket and cannot be accessed via the Court’s PACER System.

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